Posts Tagged ‘Romance’

“The hesitancy in her voice pulled at his heartstrings. “I pick the place, some little bistro you’ve never been at, and we eat, and you give me a chance.” He prayed that she’d bite.
She fell silent. Time stopped as he waited for her to say something.
“I’ll think about it. Are you on your way home?” A wariness remained in her tone, but there was a bit of hope in there too.
“Yep. Just crossing the street to see what the other side has to offer, and I will head back. I’ll see you soon. Love you, minx.”
“Okay.” She hung up without saying good-bye.
Fuck, I’m screwed if she can’t even say she loves me.
He dashed across the street while there was a break in traffic. The sun was shining high in the sky, and fluffy blue clouds meandered on by. A perfect day to have a picnic even if there was a chill in the air. Maybe later on in the week, after we’ve talked it out, he thought. What he would say, he didn’t know. The distance between them was growing too fast for him to catch up, and he didn’t know how to get her to hear him and his words. He did love her; he just didn’t know how to let her in.
Frustration rose again. His dragon roared. He didn’t want to cut himself up just to make her happy. That wasn’t who he was. It wasn’t what hunters were capable of. Hunters couldn’t kill what they cared about, what they thought of as human or having a soul. Emotions had consequences; they could get you killed. Only being a stone-cold bastard could allow you to live. How could he love her so much and yet keep her out of his problems, his issues, his hunter life? He didn’t want to lose her. Fire swirled around his body in cutting ribbons that seared him to the bone. He wanted to punch something, kick the shit out of this problem, and beat it until it submitted to him, but he couldn’t. There was no one to hurt.”

Review from You Gotta Read This:
“ I enjoyed this story of reconnection. No matter how attracted Carrie is to Dean, she still longs for a stronger and more intimate connection. Yet it seems the more she pushed the farther apart the two become. As the two drift farther apart Dean searches for a way to find his connection to his mate again, of all people he cannot lose her. When a basket full of toys arrives Dean is ready to try anything including playing a special kind of game. One that will hopefully bring the two back together and find that connection that they are losing.”- Gabrielle

“For a moment his brain stuttered in its function, and all he could do was stare. Her face was framed by tousled waves streaked with red, her wide brown eyes filled with awareness. His heart flipped once again, and his arousal grew. So much for being quiet.

“Hey, minx. Why are you awake?” He set his bags down once more and made his way to her side. He knew the answer but couldn’t help but ask. Maybe his stupidity hadn’t woke her up.

“’Cause you’re loud as hell.” She gave him a wide smile that showed off bright white teeth, but the gesture didn’t reach her eyes. “No kiss hello?”

“Well, depends on which lips you want kissed,” he teased, unable to keep from bringing sexual banter into play. He started to say something else, but her full, throaty laugh caught him off guard and caused his stomach muscles to clench and his heartbeat to speed up.

Once she recovered, she raised one sculpted, dark-brown brow. “Well, someone feels randy right now. Why don’t you put those bags away, take a shower, and join me in bed and find out.”

She sat up to show that she had slept in one of his well-worn black shirts and her pajama bottoms. He chuckled at how small she looked in the top. “Miss me that much that you’re wearing my clothes?”

She pouted. “I thought I looked good in it. Besides, it’s what’s underneath that you want.” She lifted the hem a few inches until a strip of rich cocoa skin showed in the lamplight. “You gonna shower and get in here, or do I have to take care of things on my own?” Desire burned in her eyes.

He inhaled deeply, taking in the musky tang of aroused woman, hot and awake. Fire filled his mouth, and his eyes and swirled around his body until he was filled with it. The dragon was awake and ready to claim his mate. “Taunting the dragon, love? Naughty minx.””

Review from Long and Short Reviews: “Carrie and Dean had some rough patches to work through, and this story shows how important communication is to any relationship. Once these two got into the spirit of the Truth or Dare cards, there were many possible outcomes, and this book explores the many options open to Carrie and Dean to bridge the difficult times and make their lives what they wanted. This is for those who like romance, magic and lots of heat.”- Foxglove

I put out some Halloween oriented Petit Fours and some wine. I signal for the tuxedo clad Cabana Men to bring her in. Once she’s settled under the spotlight I get the interview started.

1) Happy Halloween! Will you be dressing up this holiday? Or do you just relax and admire all the costumes?

RM: Happy Halloween to you too! Thanks for having me.

I’m not much for costumes, but I do love admiring how creative people can be.

SI: Me too! And you’re very welcome!

2) Your latest release Symphony of Light and Winter seems like the perfect book to curl up with and read while celebrating Halloween; A lover who comes back from the dead, sexiness, six sex mysterious men with a supernatural secret…. *clears throat* I it hot in here? Moving on, what can you tell us about Cyril, why should he be considered an Ultimate Halloween Hero?

RM: Well… Cyril is the calumniation of all things supernatural. He’s a god-like, sometime sprouts wing like an angel, casts magic like a wizard, has fangs and leads a cabal of sexy otherworldly men.

He believes his existence has in someway sparked the greatest paranormal legends throughout time.

SI: Wow!

3) Your heroine Linden has a pretty cool gift of reading people. If you had her ability how would you use it during Halloween?

RM: I’m too pretty good at reading people, but just like Linden every now and then I’m thrown for a loop. Halloween is all about wearing the mask, perhaps putting away the lens and simply pretending is the best approach.

SI: That’s an interesting take on it!

4) If you could be any Halloween Femme Fatale: Elvira, the Bride of Frankenstein, A vampire who would you be?

RM: Oooo… That’s a tough one. I think… Morticia Adams from the Adam’s Family. Great family and passionate husband–who could ask for more?

SI: I LOVE Morticia! The Adams family rocks!

5) What would you say are your favorite Halloween treats? Ones you can only get during this time of year.

RM: Anything chocolate – Nestle Crunch, Milk Duds, Rollos

Thank goodness it’s only once per year.

SI: And now I want some chocolate, lol.

6) Werewolf, vampire or other? Who would you say is the Ultimate Halloween Creature of the Night?

RM: I was raised on Anne Rice so vampires are always at the top of the list. There is something so powerful about a creature that can make someone beg for death. The seductive nature of the vampire increases their deadliness.

SI: Vampires were my doorway drug to the paranormal, lol.

7) What would you say is your perfect Halloween night? Costume? Giving out candy or watching scary movies with your honey on the couch, popcorn and wine at hand?

RM: After a night of trick or treating with the kids, a large glass of wine while curled up on the couch while watching “The Shining.”

SI: Nice!

8) If you were dropped into Linden and Cyril’s world which of the six guys would you pick and why?

RM: I would say Cyril, but his curse would make that impossible. So of the remaining six… Overton. He’s sexy, sophisticated, kind, loyal, but still lethal.

SI: Overton sounds dreamy!

9) What do you have coming up that we can put on our must buy lists.

RM: Set to hit before the holidays, is a short story called The Impostor’s Kiss. It’s about Cyril’s time in seventeenth century Scotland. It can be read as a stand-alone story or as a supplement to the Symphony of Light Series. There are subtle ties to Book Two in the Series, which is tentatively titled Between the Waters. The second novel is still in progress but look for it first or second quarter next year.

Symphony of Light and Winter from Etopia Press – released June 21st, 2013

One woman. Seven men. All bound by one man’s undying devotion.

Fundraiser Linden Hill has a knack for reading people. She always knows which conversations will put a prospect at ease, which drink will loosen a patron’s lips—or his wallet, and how cleavage will make a donor sweeten the deal. She’s even foreseen her dateless weekends four hundred and sixty-four times in a row.

But ten years after watching life drain from her former mentor’s and first love’s eyes, her skills for divining the predictable are lost. When Cyril returns, he’s still gorgeous, but this time he’s beyond human, far less dead, and pissed. His lack of memory drives him to desperate acts, and his turbulent re-acquaintance with Linden pulls her into his war with a creature hell-bent on his destruction. His group of six supernatural men share a tantalizing secret, but despite the hunger, it’s love that leads her to sacrifice everything to save him…

Love Paranormal Romance? Some readers have described it as Fifty Shades meets Twilight and the Black Dagger Brotherhood. While others say it reminds them of the Night Huntress or Dark Hunter series’. But most agree it’s unlike any paranormal romance they’ve read. What do you think?

About the author

Renea Mason writes steamy romances to help even out the estrogen to testosterone imbalance caused by living in a house full of men.

When she isn’t putting pen to paper crafting sensual stories filled with supernatural lovers, she spends time with her beyond-supportive husband, two wonderful sons and three loving but needy cats.

My amusement was interrupted by the absolute last thing I needed. Cyril. As if being in a room with a bunch of men who wanted me but didn’t know why and hated me for it wasn’t bad enough. In his black custom suit, he radiated power. He pulled at his cuff links as he stopped to survey the room.

Instead of trying to make my escape, I seized an opportunity to antagonize him. I was really starting to enjoy tormenting him.

“Good morning, Grim, it is nice of you to join us.”

“Grim. Ha! She called him Grim.” Rhys clapped his hands as he laughed.

Cyril didn’t acknowledge me or Rhys’s comment. He stood there for a very long time and looked around the room at each man. Nobody met his gaze but me. Cyril’s fists clenched at his side, jaw tight, and face furious.

“I warned all of you,” he addressed the room. He didn’t growl but rather wrapped his words with a subtle menace.

“Leave them alone. You know this is entirely your fault. If you would just think things through, you’d stop fucking everything up. I do have to say, of

all your fuckups, this one is certainly the most impressive and entertaining from my perspective.” I winked at Overton, who managed to glare at me even with his head practically bowed. Why were they so fucking subservient to him?

The next thing I knew, I was yanked from my seat and hoisted onto the counter. Cyril grabbed my ass and pulled me to the edge, forced my legs open, and stepped between them. He wrapped his arms around me and placed his head against mine. It wasn’t his voice I heard but rather his mind. It felt like when I talked to myself but somehow I knew it was him. Strange, he had tone and inflection while communicating.

“You need to stop showing off in front of my men. Yes, I fucked up, but do you really want them to give in to their urges? Do you think you can fend them off? I could toss you to them and see how far you get. Is that what you want? Maybe I should let them have their way with you and pull up a chair to watch. I want you to think about something before you start to defy me. I’m the only one who can keep you safe. So it’s best you stop being a smart-ass for five seconds and listen to me. I’m going to do something that will piss you off. I’m warning you now it’s for your own good. You need to go along with it, no matter how angry you are at me. Don’t fight me. I’ll try to fix this but until then, I need to take a few precautions.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. If I thought something, could he hear me? Was this two-way communication? I tried to push him away.

He tightened his grip and his voice was in my head again.

“Stop it! Let me remind you that I have a special connection with these men. Not only can I read their thoughts but I can’t block them. I don’t have to try to receive them. I know exactly what each person in this room, besides you of course, is thinking right now.”

So that’s what Overton meant when he said Cyril had ways of finding out.

“The thoughts that assaulted me when I entered this room would make a porn star blush; every one of their little fantasies featured you.”

I giggled.

The voice growled. “Don’t laugh. I won’t pretend I’m not jealous and angry. I am. But if you knew the things they were thinking you’d better understand why I need to do what I’m about to do. Do you see Dominic over there? Let’s just say his tastes run a little dark. Ever spend considerable time naked with your hands bound behind your back and a ball gag in your mouth? He’s picturing you that way, this very instant.”

I stiffened. That didn’t at all appeal to me.

“Thor seems to think that you’d enjoy all of us taking you at the same time.”

And he seemed so quiet and sweet.

“Sinclair wants to shove his cock down your throat until you choke, all the while telling you how it’s your entire fault. Rhys is thinking of how you would look sprawled out on the hood of his new sports car, and Overton…”

“NO!” I yelled.

It seemed like a violation of privacy with Overton. Unlike the others, I considered him a friend. I respected him too much.

“See, like it or not, I’m going to tell you what he’s thinking since it pisses me off the most. He thinks I’m going to fuck you right here on this counter, to lay my claim. Once he gets past the fantasies of watching me fuck you, which he finds exceptionally arousing…”

There was a momentary pause to the voice and when he started again, he was angry.

“He then knocks on your bedroom door after you run crying from the room. You invite him in and he holds you in his arms while you cry about how I violated and humiliated you. He wants to comfort you. He wants to be your savior. He wants to save you from me. But he knows he can’t.”

I felt the moment he left my head, because a sudden wave of dizziness came over me.

With no more words, he tilted his head and placed his lips against mine. I fought the rigidity that tried to seize my body. I knew it was best to give in. I wouldn’t fight him, but I knew every time he got close, I ran the risk of losing myself. I was still way too angry to just give up.

His lips danced with mine as he nestled himself between my open thighs.

Was Overton right? How far would he take it? If it did go too far, would I be able to stop him? He was such a fucking weakness for me I honestly didn’t think I would.

He was gentle and softly stroked my back as his tongue made love to my mouth. With one hand he cupped my ass and pulled me flush against him, and with the other he reached up, cupped my breast, and squeezed hard. His kiss grew frantic and I became caught up in the sensation, forgot where I was, and that I had an audience. He pushed me hard against his erection as he rubbed himself rhythmically against my core. “You are mine. You belong to me. Now say it! Let them all know who you belong to.”

Was he kidding? I hesitated.

He ran his fangs up the side of my neck in warning. He whispered in my ear, “Say it. You need to say it. Let them hear it come from your lips.” His hand drifted from my breast to the hem of my nightgown and pulled up one side so it rested in the crease where my leg met my hip.

Somehow the part of me that knew he was right surfaced, and the stubborn part of me took a momentary vacation. If I was his, they wouldn’t dare defy him. It would keep me safe.

His fingers toyed with the edge of my panties before tugging the fabric to the side to allow him to stroke my moist skin. He positioned himself at the juncture between my legs, allowing my naked flesh to gather friction from his cloth-covered cock.

“Yes, Cyril, I’m yours.”

With that, he struck. His fangs pierced my neck. The second of pain from his bite passed and the pleasure grew, igniting my veins with liquid desire. One arm tightened around me, pulling me harder

against his cock. The other held my head while he sucked harder. Each pull he took was linked to the sensitive place between my legs. He ground his hips into mine and I moaned. The first wave of climax hit, tensing muscles and pushing my breath out in a rush. This was new. He could do this just by biting me?

I shook in his arms as he drank. Tremor after tremor seized me as he took his fill. I was so caught up in the sensation I only vaguely noticed the moans and growls that escaped from behind his teeth. With one final pull, and a thrust of his hips, he finished with a crushing embrace as he removed his teeth from my neck.

“Mine!” he roared. He enveloped me in his arms and held me close. He dipped his head to lick closed the small punctures on my throat.

I threw my head back. My breathing slowed as the cloud that had invaded my head receded.

Son of a bitch! I just came in front of everyone while sitting on the kitchen counter!

I was afraid to open my eyes but when I did, he stared back.

He nuzzled my cheek. “I’m sorry. I only want to protect you. If you’re mine, no one will dare touch you. I needed to lay my claim but I didn’t want to take anything you hadn’t already offered. Since you’ve replenished me before I thought this might be more acceptable.”

I was angrier with myself than him.

He caressed my arms and back. When I mustered enough courage to look around, we were the only

people in the kitchen, with the exception of Overton, who stood in the doorway holding the keys to my car.

Cyril softly lifted my chin so that my eyes would meet his. “Again, I’m sorry. I know I end up saying that far too often. But I need you to know, hearing those words from your lips…ah, hell. I can’t even explain it. Perhaps someday, you’ll utter them in truth.”

He placed his forehead against mine, took a deep breath. “Fuck. Maybe Overton is right. Maybe someone should save you from me.”

After awhile it becomes kind of hard to keep your sex life interesting. It doesn’t matter that you can still get your feet behind your head or that you can support yourself while hanging upside down, eventually it will feel like you and your partner have hit a wall. The sex rut sinks in and you’re suddenly bored. It’s just the natural progression of most relationships. It doesn’t mean you love each other less, that you don’t enjoy having sex with your partner anymore or that your sex life is doomed. It just means it’s time to take action and get your sex life back on track. Try one of these (or all of them) six tips to bring the spice back and watch as your sex life goes from dull to exciting again.

1. Visit a Strip Club Together, then Reenact It.

If you’re both confident enough, try visiting a local strip club in your area together. It can be a major turn on to watch others shed their clothes. Surprise your partner and get them a lap dance, then just sit back and enjoy. There’s something hot about the idea of someone else showering your partner with attention when you know it won’t lead anywhere. Head home afterwards and give them their own personal strip show and lap dance. Let go of your inhibitions and just have fun.

2. Get Reacquainted with Each Other’s Fantasies:

Sure, maybe you guys shared fantasies awhile ago, but they constantly change and evolve. Touch base with each other on what they think and fantasize about. Then pick a few to try out. Dedicate one to each day of the week. You may find that you’re into their fantasy, too, or discover that you’re into things like role playing or bondage. This will be exciting for the one who’s having their fantasy acted out and bring the two of you closer together.

3. Have Phone Sex:

You don’t have to live apart or travel a lot to engage in phone sex. You just need separate rooms. Take your cell phones and put as much of your house in between the two of you. Then dial them and start telling them what you want to do to them. Read a few pages of your favorite erotic romance novel to them if you need a little inspiration or are a little apprehensive about talking dirty. Do not hang up or give up until both of you are dying to get your hands on one another.

4. Incorporate New Toys:

Over the years, I’m sure you have tried using a vibrator or cock ring together, but have you ever used a sex swing or sex furniture? Throw out your preconceived notions of toys and head out together to your nearest sex toy store or visit your favorite online retailer like Adam & Eve. Find something that you both haven’t used before and are excited to incorporate. It could be something as small as a blindfold and whip or as extensive as the sex swing.

5. Bring Back the Quickies:

Quickies seem to be one of those things that happen far more often in the beginning of the relationship. That insatiable, “I need you now” feeling takes over and you don’t care where you are or what you need to be doing. Bring back that rushed sense of excitement by dabbling in a quickie here and there, whether you’re in the bathroom at a party, in kitchen before the kids come home, or on your lunchbreak. Get it going by sending a few sexy texts to your partner so that you’re both primed for the situation and won’t require a lot of foreplay to get going.

6. Take a Tantric Sex Class:

Tantric sex is a really great way to explore every realm of your sexual pleasure. It’s all about the connection, pleasure and breath that’s involved in sex. It can make you feel closer to one another, help you discover new ways to get your partner off and even lengthen your love making sessions. Look for local classes or begin reading about it online.

Sometimes there is a very fine line between the two. Call it the bad-boy syndrome or the anti-hero, but many story “heroes” often flirt with both sides. It can make for a nice dynamic, particularly if the heroine isn’t entirely sure what to make of it. And of course, she’s most likely going to be attracted to him, just for that reason. If he’s truly bad, can he be redeemed? And will she be the one to do it?

For myself, I don’t mind it if my heroes straddle the line, because people generally tend to exist in shades of grey, and that’s exactly how I like my characters. I enjoy watching a hero’s layers slowly peeling back as we discover what makes him tick and what those inner motivations are. Often we find certain actions that may have appeared villainous or untoward at first become much more heroic once we know *why* he did them.

Not that those reasons necessarily excuse them from being an asshat, but it lends a certain amount of sympathy to their plight and it can be much easier for a reader to connect with that character. We can make allowances as to why he very well *should* end up with the heroine.

In my debut, A Brush of Darkness, Brystion the incubus has a certain element of the anti-hero in him. He’s motivated by the need to rescue his sister, but my heroine Abby has very little incentive to trust him, particularly when she has her own set of missing people to deal with. Of course, they end up having to join forces in the end…but things aren’t always what they seem. As much as Abby is attracted to him, she’s also very much aware that Brystion is an actual daemon, and one known for his overly seductive traits. Although she does give in to him (partially due to attraction and partially due to a deal they worked out), there is always a niggling of uncertainty in the back of her mind. Will he love her? Or betray her?

Here’s a little excerpt of A Brush of Darkness:“I wasn’t trying to seduce you. The offer was genuine.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “It’s a little disconcerting to be turned down by a mere mortal.”

“Just a mortal,” I snorted. “Real nice. I’ll see what I can do about soothing your ego, O gracious and tactful one.” I chewed on my lower lip thoughtfully and gave him a sly smile. “Of course, you probably shouldn’t feel too bad. After all, I am wearing a magical amulet now.”

His mouth pursed. “You are?”

“Sure. It’s made of silver and moonbeams and blessed by a flatulent dwarf,” I intoned gravely. “It’s a guaranteed ‘plus four’ against Incubus Seduction.”

His hand snarled into my hair, fingers twined tightly at the base of my head. “This is a complication I don’t want, Abby.” He growled the words, but there was no mistaking the desire that smoldered behind his now glowing eyes.

“The bulge in your pants says otherwise,” I retorted, perversely nudging my hips against him. A little voice in the back of my mind was going into apoplectic fits at my boldness. As far as I was concerned, the incubus had been acting like some sort of preternatural cocktease since we’d met and I’d had enough.

He let out a stifled groan, his other hand snaking down to grip my ass. “You’ll regret it,” he breathed, releasing his hold on my hair to trace a curious thumb over my jaw. His face drifted closer until his mouth brushed mine. I shuddered at the delicate intrusion. His fingers slid up to the small of my back.

“Probably.” I sighed, my mind happily unable to focus on anything but the way he was nipping at my lower lip. “I regret a lot of things.”

The incubus stared at me, an unnamed emotion flickering across his face, and then his lips were on mine, fierce and possessive. He devoured me utterly. There was only the sweetness of his tongue, probing hot and wet into the velvet contours of my mouth. It swept shallow, lingering to taste the soft edges, and then moved deeper, pulsing and rhythmic to match the rapid beating of my heart. I jerked forward to bury my hands in his hair, my ragged breathing giving way to a low cry of longing.

“How’s that ego?” he purred.

“Rock hard from the feel of it,” I gasped. “Just the way I like it.”

Book blurb:I had a naked incubus in my bedroom. With a frying pan of half-cooked bacon and a hard-on. And a unicorn bite on his ass. Christ, this was turning out to be a weird morning.
Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and as sexy as sin incubus who shows up searching for his sister—and is convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invading her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As Abby is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, she realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.

Author Bio:
A marine biologist in a former life, Allison Pang turned to a life of crime to finance her wild spending habits and need to collect Faberge eggs. A cat thief of notable repute, she spends her days sleeping and nights scaling walls and wooing dancing boys….Well, at least the marine biology part is true. But she was taloned by a hawk once. She also loves Hello Kitty, sparkly shoes, and gorgeous violinists.

She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids and cats, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.